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Big
boost for Rupavahini Cup Volleyball The Organizers,National
Youth Services Council (NYSCO) have secured a sponsor for the tournament
for the first time in the history of the game and the Prize money
has been increased to over 250,000 with the Winners receiving 100,000
(Mens) and 50,000 (Womens) respectively. The popular
tournament which is held for the 22nd consecutive year has attracted
72 Mens teams and 61 Womens teams and will be held on the 14 th
15 th and 16 th of August at the Gampaha Municipal Council Grounds. Speaking at
a Press Conference Sports Minister Johnston Fernando thanked CIC
Fertilizers for coming forward to sponsor Volleyball and expressed
hope that the company will continue with their Sponsorhip in a bid
to improve the game which today is becoming very popular in the
island.Director of CIC Fertilizers Mr Samantha Ranatunge handed
over the Sponsorship Cheque for Rs.one Million to the Sports Minister. The tournament
which was mooted by the current Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
in 1982 when he was the Minister for Youth Affairs will be played
outdoors for the first time in a bid to cater to the increasing
fans in the outstations.Gampaha has been selected this year since
the district has produced many National Players in the recent past. The Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation will have a live telecast of the Semi finals and Finals. Eshan,
Chanaka help Ragama Panadura SC:
150 (D. Perera 20, R. Fernando 29, H. Nilantha 4 for 43, M. Suriyappulige
4 for 40) Ragama CC:
240 for 3 (D. Ranathunga 44, E. Abeysinghe 75, S. Peiris 45 n.o,
C. Wijesinghe 63 n.o) * Nugegoda
SC put up a fine performance to score 251 runs in their first innings
on the opening day of their BCCSL under 23 cricket tournament match
played at Reid Avenue yesterday. Nugegoda SC:
251 (M. Farook 44, A. Liyanage 40, K. Silva 32 n.o, D. Ranaweera
4 for 38; F. Maharoof 2 for 67, J. Jayasuriya 2 for 49) Bloomfield:
91 for 1 (I. Daniel 45 n.o) Murali,Warne
race begins with Lanka-Aussie test series
Shane
Warne who was suspended for one year following the intake of a banned
drug before this year's World cup in February is likely to get his
first opportunity to come back during the Sri Lankan tour. He has
already been given the green light to practise with the Australian
team during this summer in a bid to make it for the Lankan tour,
despite strong objections from the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA). The agency
hit out against the ruling and has stepped up the pressure on the
Australian Government to ensure that Warne's 12 month ban is enforced
to the full. The blonde
haired leg spinner who has taken 491 wickets in 107 tests is only
second to West Indian Courtney Walsh who has 519 wickets. Sri Lanka's
Muttaih Muralitharan who is third in the all time list with 459
wickets in 82 tests is expected to close in on the Aussie as the
Lankans take on England in a three test home series in November-December.
Thus,
Sri Lanka's three test matches at home against the Australians next
year will be of added significance when Warne and Murali begin the
race to oust Walsh from the top spot. Sri Lanka will
host World champions Australia for three tests and three one dayers
in February -March next year, soon after the Aussies complete their
VB series Triangular tournament with India and Zimbabwe. The three test
matches against England and Australia will be played in Galle,Kandy
and Colombo while the one dayers will be played at the Rangiri Dambulla
and R. Premadasa Stadia. Cricket Board Authorities attempts to get down a third team during the England tour to have a Triangular Limited over tournament is believed to have failed. |
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